Yaktrax, Microspikes, Crampons: What's the Freaking Difference?!

I see this question asked a LOT in online communities. When I was first getting started (just last year, actually - boy does *that* feel like a lifetime and a half ago!), I remember having the same confusion. This is compounded by the fact that sometimes, especially online, things get labeled as "trail crampons". (Hint: Those things are actually microspikes, not crampons, and if they're under $50 they probably aren't good ones. I'd recommend picking between Hillsounds and Kahtoolas for your microspikey needs, but more on that below.) So, here you go: a beginner's guide to the differences between Yaktrax, microspikes, and crampons.

Top to Bottom: Yaktrax, Microspikes, Crampons

Yaktrax: metal coils around rubber straps underfoot; stretchy upper. They are lightweight, not very durable, and provide relatively little traction. Cheap, and not ideal for trail use: offering minimal grip on inclines, they're best suited to things like delivering pizzas during winter in the Midwest, or navigating icy parking lots.

Microspikes: metal spikes on metal chains underfoot; stretchy upper. Slightly heavier than Yaktrax, significantly more durable, and offering a lot more traction. They're ideal for compact snow/ice, compatible with pretty much any hiking-appropriate closed-toe footwear, and suitable for all but the absolute steepest of hikes. Best brands are Hillsound and Kahtoola, as mentioned above: they're more durable and give you more traction than the cheaper options you may find online. Yes they're a little pricey, yes they're worth the money, just trust me.

Crampons: adjustable metal bar with large metal blades underfoot; they have a strap or metal/plastic lever uppers, and require specialized boots, specifically a really really stiff sole (plus, depending on the crampon, specific toe/heel welts to attach to the shoe). Expensive. Heavy, burly, and dangerous if used incorrectly. Optimal for extremely steep slopes, hard ice, or icy vertical planes; think primarily glacier travel and ice climbing. If you're thinking crampons, you should also probably be thinking ice axe and attendant skills (such as self-arrest).

Snowfield below summit scramble, Mt. Stuart

Personally, I don't think Yaktrax are worth anything and, after going through two pairs that both broke within the first four uses, I stopped buying them. I own both crampons and microspikes, and both of those see plenty of time on the trail - they're both extremely useful, and they shine in different situations.

By most people's standards, I'd say Tony and I are relatively intense in the mountains: we spend a lot of time there, from high summer to deep winter, and we travel in all sorts of terrain and substrates, from basic hiking trails to rocky scrambles, deep snow, glaciers, and technical rock and ice. Whenever possible I opt for microspikes over crampons: they are cheaper, lighter, more versatile, less hassle to use, and come with significantly fewer risks. What do I mean by risks?

While crampons can seem like the obvious "do it all" choice because they offer the most traction of all, they do have some real drawbacks. First of all, they only really work correctly on mountaineering boots with stiff soles, so you have to be wearing the right footwear to make them useful (unlike microspikes, which just pop on over any old boot and you're good to go). In order to engage the differentiating features of crampons, like the front points, you need to be able to really drive them into the terrain: a softer boot won't work, because the sole will flex and unseat the crampon, which is both unhelpful and unsafe. Beyond that, in addition to being big and heavy (bummer #1), they're expensive (bummer #2), and just by their nature pose some hazards to both gear and human health even on appropriate boots (bummer #3, and probably the most significant consideration).

A crampon-worthy incline on Mt. Stuart

Crampons are basically big, sturdy knives strapped onto your feet. They can and will cut through fabric or flesh should you take a less-than-careful step while wearing them: almost everyone I know has sliced up at least one pair of expensive pants or gaiters with crampons, and on warmer trips where you might be wearing less clothing, crampons will absolutely consider your calf a satisfactory substitute for those fabric layers. (A bloodier and more painful, albeit likely less expensive, substitute.) But gashing your leg open isn't the biggest hazard with crampons: should you slip, stumble, or fall in them, those big ol' knives on your feet are liable to catch and dig in hard to the hillside - which, when combined with your body's downhill momentum, can and often does result in a snapped or shattered ankle. That kind of torque on the leg can also cause serious knee injuries, like meniscus tears, cartilage damage, or ruptured ligaments (think ACL/MCL/LCL-type injuries).

Microspikes are the right choice for the vast majority of hikers and routes - if your activities warrant the use of crampons, honestly, this article is probably just a bunch of stuff you already knew. To sum up:

Yaktrax: hard pass.
Microspikes: the right choice about 90% of the time.
Crampons: mountaineering, ice climbing, and other extreme pursuits that would make your mom pass out if she knew what you were actually up to.

Knife edge to the summit, Eldorado Peak

(Just as a brief note: snowshoes are another winter traveling tool some people have questions about. In short, the devices described above are for substrates that are firm or solid, supporting your weight; snowshoes are for soft, fluffy snow that you'll sink into without extra flotation on your feet. Longer snowshoes have greater surface area so provide a bit more float; they are also more awkward to manage while walking, weigh more, and collect larger amounts of snow on their tops as you break trail. Go with MSR snowshoes; no other brand even comes close. Different models are more or less aggressive with their features, such as underfoot traction, side traction, and heel elevator bars. Your needs there will be determined by how aggressive your routes are. Snowshoes are their own beast and will be covered in their own post!)